JP7492787B1 - Portable bird and animal repellent device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a portable bird and animal repellent device that can keep emitting sound regardless of human movement and can select the appropriate sound from the audible range to the ultrasonic range. [Solution] The device employs a means consisting of a sound generator that generates a signal with a frequency from the audible range to the ultrasonic range, a speaker that produces the signal from the sound generator, a volume adjustment dial that adjusts the volume of the sound, and a frequency adjustment dial that adjusts the frequency of the sound. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a portable bird and animal repellent device, and more specifically to technology that changes the volume and frequency according to the usage environment while having the effect of scaring and repelling birds and animals.

In recent years, there have been many accidents in which hikers and people who go into the mountains to pick wild vegetables have encountered bears, resulting in deaths and injuries.
Bears are known to become startled and attack people when they suddenly encounter them, so measures to prevent such incidents are needed.
Traditionally, the method of scaring off bears has been to ring a bell or whistle while walking around. The sound alerts bears to the presence of humans, keeping them away as they are naturally afraid of humans.
However, this method is only effective while the person is moving or blowing the whistle, so if the bell or whistle stops playing during a break, for example, the method is no longer effective.
There are also devices that electrically emit sounds in the audible range, but constantly emitting sounds in the audible range can be a nuisance at night or in crowded areas.
Therefore, there has been a demand for a repellent device that can continue to emit sound regardless of a person's movements and can change the sound to something outside the audible range depending on the situation.

Various techniques have been proposed to address such problems. For example, an animal control device capable of scaring off harmful birds and animals (see Patent Document 1) has been proposed and is a publicly known technique. More specifically, the technique is provided with a sound emission unit that emits sound waves including the audible frequency of animals, and the sound emission unit is provided with an ultra-directional speaker device that uses ultrasonic waves with a higher frequency as a carrier, and has multiple data and outputs sounds suitable for scaring off specific animals, such as sounds suitable for scaring off crows, sounds suitable for scaring off bears, and sounds suitable for scaring off wild boars.
However, because the purpose is intimidation, it is not suitable for continuous use and does not solve the above problems.

JP 2016-28558 A

In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a portable bird and animal repellent device that can continuously emit sound regardless of human movement and can appropriately select sounds from the audible range to the ultrasonic range.

To solve the above problems, the portable bird and animal repellent device of the present invention employs a means having a sound wave generator that generates a signal with a frequency ranging from the audible range to the ultrasonic range, a speaker that produces the signal from the sound wave generator, a volume adjustment dial that adjusts the volume of the sound, and a frequency adjustment dial that adjusts the frequency of the sound.

The present invention also employs a means for using a dry cell, battery, or rechargeable battery as the power source.

Furthermore, the present invention employs a means in which the frequency range includes at least 8KHz to 40KHz.

Furthermore, the present invention employs a means having a holder that can be attached to a waist belt or backpack belt.

Furthermore, the present invention employs a means for providing an emergency button, which, when pressed, emits audible frequency sounds at a high volume for a set period of time.

Furthermore, the present invention employs a means for providing an indication that the device is in an operational state.

Furthermore, the present invention employs a means for sounding audible frequencies at a high volume when it detects that the device has been removed.

The portable bird and animal repellent device of the present invention can continuously generate animal repellent sounds by switching between the audible range and the ultrasonic range as appropriate, so that the animal repellent sounds can be continuously generated while being considerate of the surroundings and residents, thereby improving convenience.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a portable bird and animal repellent device according to the present invention; 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of a portable bird and animal repellent device according to the present invention. 4 is a graph showing the change over time in frequency and volume of sound produced by the portable bird and animal repellent device of the present invention. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of how the portable bird and animal repellent device according to the present invention is attached;

The greatest feature of the portable bird and animal repellent device of the present invention is that it can continuously emit sound regardless of human movement, and can change the sound to something outside the audible range depending on the situation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a portable bird and animal repellent device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The overall configuration and each part of the portable bird and animal repellent device shown below are not limited to the embodiments described below, but can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, i.e., within the scope of shapes, dimensions, structures, etc. that can achieve the same functional effects.

The present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a portable bird and animal repellent device according to the present invention, where (a) is an overall perspective view, (b) is a side view of the side with a volume adjustment dial, and (c) is a back view showing the holding part.
FIG. 2 is a system diagram of the portable bird and animal repellent device according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a graph showing the changes in pronunciation frequency and volume when the portable bird and animal repellent device of the present invention is in use, where (a) shows the changes in frequency and volume when the emergency button is pressed, and (b) shows the changes in frequency and volume when the pronunciation key is inserted and removed.
Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing examples of a portable bird and animal repellent device according to the present invention worn by a person, where (a) is an example of the device being worn on the shoulder strap of a backpack, and (b) is an example of the device being worn on the waist belt of trousers.

The portable bird and animal repellent device 1 is a device that continuously emits sounds of audio frequencies including the ultrasonic range in order to avoid encounters with birds and animals including bears.
In this embodiment, frequencies below 20 KHz are defined as the audible range, and frequencies above 20 KHz are defined as the ultrasonic range.
The portable bird and animal repellent device 1 is mainly composed of a sound generating unit 10, a speaker 20, and a battery 30.

The sound generating unit 10 is the main part of the portable bird and animal repellent device 1. The sound generating unit 10 includes a sound wave generator 11 and an amplifier 12, and changes the frequency and volume of the generated sound depending on various settings and conditions. The sound generating unit 10 is located inside the housing of the device, and is provided with a power switch 40, a power indicator lamp 41, a frequency adjustment dial 50, a volume adjustment dial 51, an emergency button 52, and a sound generating pull-out key 53 around the periphery of the housing.
The sound generation unit 10 operates using power supplied from a battery 30 .
The sound generation unit 10 is connected to a speaker 20. The sound generation unit 10 sends to the speaker 20 a drive signal at a set frequency and with a set output amount.
Also, depending on the state of the emergency button 52 and the sound generation pull-out key 53, sound can be generated at a fixed frequency and at a fixed volume, regardless of the settings of the frequency adjustment dial 50 and the volume adjustment dial 51. The frequency and volume can be controlled via a control unit such as a microcomputer, or by a simple logic circuit.

The sound wave generator 11 inside the sound generation unit 10 is a part that generates a frequency for sound generation, and generates a signal with a frequency ranging from the audible range to the ultrasonic range.
The sound wave generator 11 sets the frequency of the sound in accordance with the frequency adjustment dial 50. The setting range includes at least the range from 8 KHz to 40 KHz.
Many birds and animals can recognize sounds in the ultrasonic range. According to one theory, bears can recognize sounds up to 44 kHz.
Therefore, by including the ultrasonic range, it is possible to use the audible range and the ultrasonic range selectively depending on the situation.
The signal may be output at a constant level at a set frequency, or may vary in level or frequency in a short period of one second or less.
This is because many animals will find it unpleasant to do so.
Also, depending on the state of the emergency button 52 and the sound output pull-out key 53, a signal of a certain frequency is output.

The amplifier 12 inside the sound generation unit 10 is a part that converts the signal generated by the sound wave generator 11 into a drive signal that drives the speaker 20. The magnitude of the drive signal is determined by a volume adjustment dial 51.
Also, depending on the state of the emergency button 52 and the sound output pull-out key 53, a drive signal of a certain magnitude is output.

Each input/output element will be explained.
The power switch 40 is a switch for turning the power of the device on and off. When the power switch 40 is turned on, the sound generation unit 10 operates.
As a safety measure, if the volume adjustment dial 51 is set to a large value, the power switch 40 may be set to be inoperative even when it is turned on, in order to prevent a sudden loud sound from being produced.

The power indicator lamp 41 is a lamp that indicates whether or not the portable bird and animal repellent device 1, which is the device, is powered on. In other words, it indicates whether or not the device is in an operating state.
By checking the power indicator lamp 41, it is possible to know that the device is in operation even if sound is being emitted in the ultrasonic range.
Furthermore, the power indicator lamp 41 may be made to blink when the remaining charge of the battery 30 is low. By checking that the power indicator lamp 41 is blinking, the user can replace or charge the battery promptly.

The frequency adjustment dial 50 is a dial that adjusts the frequency of the sound. By rotating the dial, the frequency can be set in the range of 8 to 40 kHz. Markings and numbers are printed around the dial, which serve as a guide when specifying sounds in the ultrasonic range.

The volume adjustment dial 51 is a dial that adjusts the volume of sound. By turning the dial, the volume can be set within a range from 0 to approximately 100 dB. Markings, numbers, and marks indicating the volume are printed around the dial, which serve as a guide when specifying the volume.

The emergency button 52 is a button for generating a sound in the audible range at a high volume for a certain period of time in order to respond to or intimidate sudden encounters, etc. Pressing the emergency button generates a sound in the audible range frequency at a high volume for a certain period of time.
The emergency button 52 is disposed as a relatively large button in a conspicuous portion of the housing of the portable bird and animal repellent device 1. This is to enable the emergency button 52 to be pressed without looking at the portable bird and animal repellent device 1.
If a bear or other animal suddenly appears, the loud sound will scare them away and let others in the vicinity know that there is an emergency. The emergency button 52 may be located at a corner and designed to be able to be pressed from either the front or the side.

The sound output pull-out key 53 is for responding to an emergency, like the emergency button 52. The sound output pull-out key 53 is a switch, and by pulling out the sound output pull-out key 53 by holding the pulling string 64, the switch is turned on, and a sound similar to that of the emergency button 52 is generated. The generation time is, for example, the time it takes to reinsert the sound output pull-out key 53.
The threatening sound can be emitted simply by pulling the pulling string 64, making it suitable for use in emergencies.

In addition, by fastening the pull-out string 64 to a belt or the like, if the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 is accidentally dropped, the sound-making pull-out key 53 will come out and make a sound, preventing the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 from being dropped and lost.

The speaker 20 is a part that generates sounds in the audible range or ultrasonic range.
The speaker 20 generates sound by converting a signal from a sound wave generator into a drive signal by an amplifier, and therefore can be said to generate sound in response to the signal from the sound wave generator.
Since the ultrasonic wave range is generated, the frequency characteristics of the speaker 20 are accordingly set accordingly. In this embodiment, a speaker capable of generating frequencies up to at least 40 KHz is used.
The speaker 20 is suitable because it can output sounds up to ultrasonic waves over a wide range.
In this embodiment, the speaker 20 is placed on the top surface of the portable bird and animal repellent device 1, and when in use, is set so that the speaker 20 faces forward.
If necessary, multiple speakers 20 may be connected. For example, when the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 is attached to the shoulder of a backpack, it is preferable to arrange the speakers 20 on three sides, the front, right and left, so that the sound can be spread over a wider range.

The battery 30 is a power source for the portable bird and animal repellent device 1. It may be a dry cell, a rechargeable battery, or a dedicated battery. In the case of a rechargeable battery or a dedicated battery, a charging socket may be provided on the housing.
This allows charging to be performed without removing the rechargeable battery or dedicated battery from the housing.

The holding part 60 is a part for attaching the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 to a belt or the like. It includes a vertical belt band 61 and a horizontal belt band 62.
By providing the vertical belt band 61 and the horizontal belt band 62, it can be attached to a waist belt or a backpack belt.
The vertical belt band 61 is located near both longitudinal ends of the portable bird and animal repellent device 1, and is a band primarily used for attaching the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 to a vertical belt such as the shoulder strap of a backpack.
The horizontal belt bands 62 are located near both widthwise ends of the portable bird and animal repellent device 1, and are primarily used to attach the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 to a horizontal belt such as a trouser waist belt. One end of the vertical belt band 61 and the horizontal belt band 62 are detachable by snap buttons 63, making it easy to attach the device to a belt.

The portable bird and animal repellent device 1 can freely change the frequency and volume of sound produced, and can be used according to the situation.
During the day and in the mountains, a relatively loud audible sound can be used to ward off birds and animals such as bears. By making the sound within the audible range, many birds and animals can be avoided, and both the user and their friends can recognize that the bird and animal repellent is working, which increases the sense of security.
Furthermore, at night or in crowded areas, using sounds in the audible range can be a nuisance, so it is preferable to use sounds in the ultrasonic range, because birds and animals such as bears can recognize ultrasonic waves up to several tens of KHz. By using the ultrasonic range, it is possible to avoid birds and animals without causing a nuisance to people nearby.
Also, when sleeping in a tent or the like, the use of the ultrasonic range allows birds and animals to be avoided without being disturbed while sleeping.

The operation of the emergency button 52 and the sound output pull-out key 53 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3(a) is a graph for the emergency button 52. The X-axis represents the time axis, and the Y-axis represents the on/off state of the emergency button, the volume level, and the frequency value.
This is assumed to be the case when the sound is generated in normal use at a volume of 40 dB and a frequency of 30 KHz.
When a user encounters a bear, in order to scare it off, the user presses the emergency button 52. When the emergency button 52 is pressed, the sound generation unit 10 immediately changes the volume to 100 dB and the frequency to 8 KHz, which is within the audible range.
The change may be made by a control unit such as a microcomputer, or may be made by a simple logic circuit, a counter, a timer, or the like.
The 100 dB, 8 KHz state is maintained for three seconds after the emergency button 52 is pressed. Three seconds is a sufficient time for intimidation. After three seconds, the state before the emergency button 52 was pressed is restored.
The right part of Fig. 3(a) shows the case where the emergency button 52 is pressed repeatedly. The loud volume returns to normal 3 seconds after the last pressing of the emergency button 52.

The case of the sound generating pull-out key 53 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the pull cord 64 is pulled to pull out the sound generating pull key 53, the volume becomes 100 dB and the frequency becomes 8 KHz, which is an audible range, in the same way as in the case of the emergency button 52. Therefore, it is possible to make an instant threat or to give an instant warning to a companion.
Like common security goods, the sound output pull-out key 53 maintains the loud volume state until the sound output pull-out key 53 is reinserted. The user reinserts the sound output pull-out key 53 as necessary.
Therefore, by making the sound generating pull-out key 53 removable when the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 is dropped, the user can easily recognize that the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 has been dropped even when used in the ultrasonic range.

FIG. 4 shows how the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 is used.
4(a) shows an example in which the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 is attached to the shoulder strap 71 of a backpack 70. A vertical belt band 61 is used for the holding part 60. The vertical belt bands 61 are located at both ends of the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 in the longitudinal direction, so that the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 can be stably held.
By mounting the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 on the shoulder strap 71 of the backpack 70, the speaker 20 faces forward and can emit sound over a wide range, mainly in front.
In addition, by attaching the handset to the left shoulder strap 71, the frequency adjustment dial 50, the volume adjustment dial 51, and the emergency button 52 can be easily operated with the right hand, which is preferable.

4(b) is an example in which the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 is attached to a waist belt 72. The horizontal belt bands 62 of the holding part 60 are used. The horizontal belt bands 62 are located at both ends of the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 in the width direction, so that the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 can be stably held.
By attaching the portable bird and animal repellent device 1 to the waist belt 72, the speaker 20 faces forward and can emit sound over a wide range, mainly in front.
In addition, by attaching it to the right waist belt 72, the frequency adjustment dial 50, the volume adjustment dial 51, and the emergency button 52 can be easily operated with the right hand, which is preferable.

In this way, according to the present invention, the bird and animal repellent sound can be continuously generated by appropriately switching from the audible range to the ultrasonic range, so that the bird and animal repellent sound can be continuously generated while being considerate of the surroundings and nearby residents, thereby improving convenience.

In addition, by adopting an electric circuit, the present invention is capable of generating ultrasonic waves continuously, and is also capable of realizing a small and lightweight device that is easy to carry for everyone from children to the elderly.
In addition, the frequency of the sound can be freely adjusted, so it can be used at night or in crowded places with consideration for the surroundings. Also, since it is battery-operated and rechargeable, it is an easy power source to use repeatedly. Either way, it can make it easier and more reliable to avoid encounters between humans and bears.

In addition, the present invention can deliver sound waves to an area with a radius of 50 meters or more, which has the effect of scaring off and keeping bears away from a distance, helping to avoid unexpected encounters with bears.

The present invention is also small and lightweight, making it easy to carry, even for children, and its compact size means it can be worn on the waist or on the belt of a backpack while moving around.

Furthermore, it is battery-operated and uses AAA batteries (including rechargeable batteries) or a dedicated battery as its power source, making it extremely economical.

Furthermore, the present invention does not need to be held in the hand to be operated. There is no need to operate the device by pointing it at a vermin after visually identifying the vermin, and the bear repellent effect can be maintained at all times without being held in the hand.

What's more, the generated frequency and strength of the sound waves can be freely adjusted. With the flick of a switch, a wide range of settings can be made, including both inside and outside the human audible frequency range. This means that by changing the generated frequency, sound waves can be set that take into consideration the surroundings, even at night or in a crowded area.

Furthermore, unlike bells and whistles, which only sound when you are moving, this device can emit sound constantly. By turning it on and setting the appropriate frequency and volume, it can continue to emit sound waves even when you are standing still, and by pressing the emergency button, it can instantly emit a loud 100 dB sound for three seconds, scaring off bears instantly.

Furthermore, the fastening belt on the main body can be attached to the belt of pants or the belt of a backpack, making it easier to carry.

Also, when you turn the power switch on, the power light comes on, so you can tell the device is working even when you're using the ultrasonic range.

The portable bird and animal repellent device of the present invention can be carried by not only climbers, campers, and workers who travel through forests where wild animals are active, but also by the general public, including school-going children, in light of recent cases of bears appearing in urban areas, and can be enjoyed by everyone. Therefore, the industrial applicability of the "portable bird and animal repellent device" of the present invention is considered to be very great.

1 Portable bird and animal repellent device 10 Sound generation unit 11 Sound wave generator 12 Amplifier 20 Speaker 30 Battery 40 Power switch 41 Power indicator lamp 50 Frequency adjustment dial 51 Volume adjustment dial 52 Emergency button 53 Sound generation pull-out key 60 Holding part 61 Vertical belt band 62 Horizontal belt band 63 Snap button 64 Pull-out string 70 Backpack 71 Shoulder strap 72 Waist belt

Claims (6)

a sound wave generator that generates signals with frequencies ranging from the audible range to the ultrasonic range;
a speaker that produces sound in response to a signal from the sound wave generator;
A volume adjustment dial to adjust the volume of the sound,
A frequency adjustment dial for adjusting the frequency of the sound;
It has a holder that can be attached to a waist belt or backpack belt,
The holding portion is composed of vertical belt bands at both ends in the longitudinal direction and horizontal belt bands at both ends in the width direction,
A portable bird and animal repellent device, characterized in that when held by the holding part, the speaker faces forward and the volume adjustment dial and the frequency adjustment dial can be operated with one hand. The portable bird and animal repellent device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is powered by a dry cell, a battery, or a rechargeable battery. The portable bird and animal repellent device according to claim 1, characterized in that the frequency includes at least a range of 8 KHz to 40 KHz. 2. The portable bird and animal repellent device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has an emergency button, and when the emergency button is pressed, the device emits the sound of an audible frequency range at a volume of 100 dB for a certain period of time. The portable bird and animal repellent device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has an indication that the device is in operation. 2. The portable bird and animal repellent device according to claim 1, wherein when it is detected that the device has fallen off, the device emits the sound having a frequency in the audible range at a volume of 100 dB.